Patent Application
20240088598
A connector is removably affixable to an electronic device to provide an electrical connection between the electronic device and an external electrical source. The electrical connection is established upon insertion of the electronic plug into a plug receptacle of the electronic device. Likewise, the electrical connection is severed upon removal of the electronic plug from the plug receptacle of the electronic device.
Examples are disclosed that relate to a pivotable connector having features that promote low-friction engagement between an electronic plug of the connector and a plug receptacle of an electronic device that allows for easy removal of the electronic plug from the plug receptacle. In one example, a connector includes a housing. The housing includes a leading surface. The leading surface forms a plug opening and a fulcrum spaced away from the plug opening. The connector includes an electronic plug extending through the plug opening away from the leading surface of the housing. The connector includes a pivot providing the electronic plug a range of angular adjustment relative to the leading surface of the housing. The connector includes a bias mechanism biasing the electronic plug to a default position within the range of angular adjustment.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure.
In a scenario where an electronic plug is pulled out of the plug receptacle with an off-axis force and/or a rotational pulling motion—i.e., not pulled straight out, friction caused by interference between the electronic plug and the plug receptacle is increased relative to a scenario where the electronic plug is pulled straight out of the plug receptacle. This is due to the electronic plug having a fixed orientation relative to the connector. Such increased friction causes binding between the electronic plug and the plug receptacle that makes removal of the electronic plug from the plug receptacle more difficult. In some cases, binding may cause the attempted removal of the plug to result in undesirably moving the entire electronic device. Moreover, repeated removal of the electronic plug from the plug receptacle with an off-axis force and/or a rotational pulling motion can cause degradation of the electronic plug and/or the plug receptacle.
Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to a pivotable connector having features that promote low-friction engagement between an electronic plug of the connector and a plug receptacle of an electronic device that allows for easy removal of the electronic plug from the plug receptacle. In one example, a connector includes a pivot providing an electronic plug a range of angular adjustment. When the electronic plug of the connector is pulled out of a plug receptacle of an electronic device with an off-axis force and/or a rotational pulling motion, the electronic plug pivots within the range of angular adjustment to maintain alignment with the plug receptacle as the electronic plug pulls away from the plug receptacle and the housing of the connector leverages against a fulcrum of the housing.
The fulcrum and the pivotable electronic plug of the connector collectively provide the technical benefit of reducing friction and/or binding between the electronic plug and the plug receptacle upon removal of the electronic plug from the plug receptacle. In other words, the ability of the electronic plug to angular adjust or pivot relative to the housing provides the technical benefit of allowing the electronic plug to be removed from a plug receptacle with less force than another connector that has an electronic plug with a fixed orientation relative to a housing of the connector. Additionally, a bias mechanism biases the electronic plug to a default position that facilitates alignment with a plug receptable when the electronic plug is inserted into the plug receptacle. The bias mechanism provides the technical benefit of reducing friction and/or misalignment between the electronic plug and the plug receptacle. Moreover, each of the above-described features provide the technical benefit of reducing or eliminating unwanted pulling of the electronic device responsive to plug removal and reducing degradation of the connector upon repeated insertion and removal of the electronic plug into/out of various plug receptacles. Further, in some examples, the connector includes additional features that promote low-friction engagement between the electronic plug and a plug receptacle of an electronic device as will be discussed in further detail below.
The pivotable connector 100 enables the transmission of electrical power between the external electrical power/data source 104 and the laptop computer 102 via the electrical connection. In some examples, the pivotable connector 100 enables the transmission of data between the external electrical power/data source 104 and the laptop computer 102 via the electrical connection. In some examples, the pivotable connector 100 enables the transmission of both electrical power and data between the external electrical power/data source 104 and the laptop computer 102. In some examples, the pivotable connector 100 is compatible with a USB-C type plug receptable of an electronic device such as the laptop computer 102.
The external electrical power/data source 104 can take any suitable form. In some examples, the external electrical power/data source 104 is an electrical power source, such as an electrical power socket. In some examples, the external electrical power/data source 104 is an electrical power storage device, such as a battery. In some examples, the external electrical power/data source 104 is an external data storage device, such as a solid-state drive (SSD). In some examples, the external electrical power/data source 104 is another electronic device, such as another computer or computer peripheral.
The laptop computer 102 is provided as a non-limiting example of an electronic device to which the pivotable connector 100 is removably affixable in order to establish an electrical connection with an external electrical power/data source. The pivotable connector 100 is removably affixable to any suitable electronic device having a plug receptacle that is compatible with the electronic plug of the pivotable connector 100. In the illustrated example, the pivotable connector 100 provides a wired electrical connection between the laptop computer 102 and the external electrical power/data source 104. In other examples, the pivotable connector 100 provides a wireless connection between an electronic device and an external electrical power/data source. For example, the pivotable connector may include a wireless transceiver (e.g., WIFI®, Bluetooth®) dongle that establishes a wireless connection between an electronic device and another external electronic device.
The housing 200 further forms a cable opening 210. The cable 106 extends through the cable opening 210 away from the housing 200. The cable 106 is electrically connectable to an external electrical power/data source to enable transmission of electrical power and/or data between the external electrical power/data source and the electronic device.
In the illustrated example, the housing 200 is formed from over-molded plastic (e.g., ABS). In other examples, the housing 200 is formed from/by one or more different material(s) and/or different manufacturing process(es). The housing 200 may be formed from any suitable material, manufactured using any suitable manufacturing process into a connector having any desired shape and/or configuration.
In the illustrated example, the electronic plug 206 is a USB-C compatible electronic plug that is configured to plug into a corresponding USB-C type plug receptacle of an electronic device. As such, the plug is reversible in that it may be plugged in either of two orientations. In other examples, the electronic plug is a different type of electronic plug (e.g., USB-A, USB 2.0B, USB 3.0B, USB 2.0 Micro, USB 3.0 Micro, USB Mini 5, Lighting, HDMI). The electronic plug may be any suitable type of plug that is configured to plug into a receptacle of an electronic device.
As shown in
In
In
In
The positions of the electronic plug 206 in
The internal retention structure 208 is at least partially contained within the housing 200. The internal retention structure 208 is coupled to the electronic plug 206 and configured to pivotably couple the electronic plug 206 to the housing 200, such that the electronic plug 206 has a range of angular adjustment relative to the leading surface 202 of the housing 200. In the illustrated example, the internal retention structure 208 forms a partially circular disk 804 that is pivotable relative to the housing 200 to pivot the electronic plug 206 within the range of angular adjustment. Arced interior sidewalls 806 formed in the bottom part 802 of the housing 200 retain the partially circular disk 804 in place within the housing 200 while allowing the partially circular disk 804 to pivot the electronic plug 206 within the range of angular adjustment. In other examples, different pivoting mechanisms may be used. The internal retention structure 208 provides the technical benefit of allowing the electronic plug 206 to angularly adjust or pivot relative to the housing 200 thus allowing the electronic plug to be removed from a plug receptacle with less force than another connector that has an electronic plug with a fixed orientation relative to a housing of the connector.
The pivotable connector 100 includes a bias mechanism 808 biasing the electronic plug 206 to a default position within the range of angular adjustment (e.g., the default position 504 shown in
The first and second bias magnets 810, 812 are selected to have a strength of magnetic attraction that allows for the partially circular disk 804 to pivot the electronic plug 206 through the entire range of angular adjustment while also allowing for the electronic plug 206 to return to the default position. In some examples, magnetic attraction between one permanent magnet and one magnetically compatible structure, such as a ferromagnetic structure such as iron, may be used instead of two permanent magnets.
The pivotable connector 100 includes a first connecting magnet 816 and a second connecting magnet 818. The first connecting magnet 816 is positioned within the housing 200 on a first side 820 of the plug opening 204. The second connecting magnet 818 is contained within the housing 200 on a second side 822 of the plug opening 204 that opposes the first side 820. The first connecting magnet 816 is held in place by a cutout 824 formed in the bottom part 802 of the housing 200. The second connecting magnet 818 is held in place by a cutout 826 formed in the bottom part 802 of the housing 200.
The pivotable connector 100 is removably affixable to an electronic device based at least on a magnetic attraction between the first and second connecting magnets 816, 818 and the electronic device. In some examples, the first and second connecting magnets 816, 818 are magnetically attracted to corresponding connecting magnets of the electronic device. In some examples, the first and second connecting magnets 816, 818 are magnetically attracted to ferromagnetic material of the electronic device, such as steel. The magnetic attraction provided by the first and second connecting magnets 816, 818 provides the technical benefit of allowing for various retention features to be omitted from the electronic plug 206, such that the electronic plug 206 has low friction engagement with a plug receptacle that allows for easy removal of the electronic plug 206 from the plug receptacle.
Although not shown, the top part 800 of the housing 200 may also include features to affix the partially circular disk 804, the first bias magnet 810, and the first and second connecting magnets 816, 818 in place within the housing 200. In some examples, the top part 800 of the housing 200 includes arced interior sidewalls that correspond to the arced interior sidewalls 806 formed in the bottom part 802 of the housing to rotatably couple the partially circular disk 804 to the housing 200. In some examples, the top part 800 of the housing 200 includes cutouts that correspond to the cutouts 824, 826 to affix the first and second connecting magnets 816, 818 in place within the housing 200. However, it should be noted that connector 100 is a non-limiting example and various other configurations that allow for angular adjustment of the plug fall within the scope of this disclosure.
In some implementations, the pivotable connector 100 may include additional data wires that extend from the cable 106 and electrically connect to the printed circuit board 900 to facilitate data transfer between the electronic plug 206 and an electronic device.
In some implementations, a pivotable connector includes a spring bias mechanism that biases an electronic plug to a default position within a range of angular adjustment. A spring may provide a less expensive alternative to a magnetic biasing solution.
In the illustrated implementation, the pivotable connector 1300 includes a printed circuit board 1306 that is fixed within the housing 200. The printed circuit board 1306 is not encased in the partially circular disk 804 so that the partially circular disk 804 and the electronic plug 206 can pivot relative to the printed circuit board 1306. Note that the partially circular disk 804 is shown in dashed lines in
In
In some implementations, a pivotable connector includes a low-friction electronic plug that includes features that reduce friction between the low-friction electronic plug and a corresponding plug receptacle of an electronic device when the electronic plug is inserted into or removed from the plug receptacle.
In some examples, a low-friction electronic plug includes a number of pins (N) that is less than a number of pin contacts (M) of a pin receptacle. Note that the numbers N and M may be any suitable numbers as long as N is less than M.
In this example, the pin layout of the plug receptacle 1602 is that of a USB-C type plug receptacle. The plug receptacle 1602 includes a set of power pin contacts 1604 and a set of data pin contacts 1606. The set of power pin contacts 1604 include 10 pin contacts. The set of data pin contacts 1606 include 14 pin contacts. In this example M equals 24, and pin contacts that do not correspond to the set of power pins are data pin contacts. The set of power pin contacts 1604 interface with the set of power pins 1608 of the low-friction electronic plug 1600 to facilitate the transfer of electrical power to the electronic device. The set of data pin contacts 1606 facilitate the transmission and reception of data. However, in this example, the low-friction electronic plug 1600 lacks any data pins and thus does not have data transmission/reception functionality. Instead, the low-friction electronic plug 1600 provides electrical power transmission functionality.
When a pin interfaces with a pin contact friction is generated. By having less pins in the low-friction electronic plug than pin contacts in the plug receptacle, the low the amount of friction generated from the low-friction electronic plug being inserted into the plug receptacle is reduced relative to an electronic plug that has a greater number of pins interfacing with pin contacts of the plug receptacle. Such a reduction in friction provides the technical benefit of allowing for the low-friction electronic plug to be more easily inserted into the plug receptacle with less force. Further, such a reduction in friction allows for the low-friction electronic plug to be more easily removed from the plug receptacle.
In other examples, a pivotable connector includes both power pins and data pins to provide both electrical power and data transmission functionality at the cost of having higher friction engagement between the electronic plug and the plug receptacle.
As shown in
By not engaging the retention detents, the low-friction electronic plug 1700 provides the technical benefit of reducing the amount of friction generated from the low-friction electronic plug 1700 being inserted into the plug receptacle relative to an electronic plug that includes retention latches that engage with the retention detents 1704. Such a reduction in friction allows for the low-friction electronic plug 1700 to be more easily inserted into the plug receptacle 1702. Further, such a reduction in friction allows for the low-friction electronic plug 1700 to be more easily removed from the plug receptacle 1702.
As shown in
Note that the low-friction electronic plug 1700 is long enough that when inserted into the plug receptacle 1702, the plurality of pins 1706 of the low-friction electronic plug 1700 engage with the corresponding plurality of pin contacts 1708 of the plug receptacle 1702.
By not engaging the ground pins 1804, the low-friction electronic plug 1700 provides the technical benefit of reducing the amount of friction generated from the low-friction electronic plug being inserted into the plug receptacle relative to an electronic plug that is long enough to engage the ground pins 1804. Such a reduction in friction allows for the low-friction electronic plug 1700 to be more easily inserted into the plug receptacle 1702. Further, such a reduction in friction allows for the low-friction electronic plug 1700 to be more easily removed from the plug receptacle 1702. Furthermore, a shortened plug reduces the angular extent to which the plug must pivot before fully clearing the plug receptacle. Shortening the low-friction electronic plug 1700 also allows the connector housing leading edge 202 to contact the electronic device surface 1004 bringing the connecting magnets 816 and 818 closer to device side retention magnets 1006, 1008 (and/or ferromagnetic material) thus increasing the retention force between the pivotable connector 100 and the electronic device 1000.
In some examples, a pivotable connector may include any combination of the above described low-friction features to provide low friction engagement between a low-friction electronic plug and a plug receptacle. Moreover, each of the above-described features provide the technical benefit of reducing or eliminating undesirably pulling/moving the electronic device responsive to pulling on the connector's power cord and/or reducing degradation of the pivotable connector upon repeated insertion and removal of the electronic plug into/out of various plug receptacles.
In an example, a connector comprises a housing including a leading surface including a plug opening and a fulcrum spaced away from the plug opening, an electronic plug extending through the plug opening away from the leading surface of the housing, a pivot providing the electronic plug a range of angular adjustment relative to the leading surface of the housing, and a bias mechanism biasing the electronic plug to a default position within the range of angular adjustment. In this example and/or other examples, the fulcrum may be a first fulcrum, and the leading surface of the housing may include a second fulcrum spaced away from the plug opening on an opposing side of the plug opening from the first fulcrum, such that the plug opening is positioned between the first fulcrum and the second fulcrum. In this example and/or other examples, the connector may further comprise a connecting magnet contained within the housing, the connector may be removably affixable to an electronic device based at least on a magnetic attraction between the connecting magnet and the electronic device. In this example and/or other examples, the connecting magnet may be a first connecting magnet positioned within the housing on a first side of the plug opening, the connector may further comprises a second connecting magnet contained within the housing on a second side of the plug opening that opposes the first side, and the connector may be removably affixable to the electronic device based at least on a magnetic attraction between the first and second connecting magnets and the electronic device. In this example and/or other examples, the connector may be configured to electrically connect to the electronic device via insertion of the electronic plug into a plug receptacle of the electronic device, the electronic plug may include a number of pins (N) that is less than a number of pin contacts (M) of the plug receptacle. In this example and/or other examples, the number of pins (N) may correspond to a set of power pins configured to facilitate a transfer of electrical power through the connector to the electronic device, and pin contacts of the number of pin contacts (M) that do not correspond to the set of power pins may be data pin contacts. In this example and/or other examples, the plug receptacle may include a pair of retention detents configured to engage with a corresponding pair of retention latches of a high-friction electronic plug, and the electronic plug may be a low-friction electronic plug that lacks a pair of retention latches. In this example and/or other examples, the plug receptacle may include a ground pin positioned at a backend of the plug receptacle, and the electronic plug may be a low-friction electronic plug having a shortened length, such that the low-friction electronic plug does not electrically connect with the ground pin upon the low-friction electronic plug being inserted into the plug receptacle. In this example and/or other examples, the connector may further comprise an internal retention structure at least partially contained within the housing and configured to pivotably couple the electronic plug to the housing. In this example and/or other examples, the internal retention structure may form a partially circular disk pivotable relative to the housing to pivot the electronic plug within the range of angular adjustment. In this example and/or other examples, the bias mechanism may include a first bias magnet fixed within the housing and a second bias magnet that pivots with the electronic plug, and the electronic plug may be biased to the default position within the range of angular adjustment based at least on a magnetic attraction between the first bias magnet and the second bias magnet. In this example and/or other examples, the bias mechanism may include a spring operatively coupled to a fixed position in the housing to bias the electronic plug to the default position. In this example and/or other examples, the connector may further comprise a printed circuit board mechanically coupled and electrically connected to the electronic plug, and a flexible power wire electrically connected to the printed circuit board to transfer electrical power to the electronic plug via the printed circuit board, the printed circuit board may pivot relative to the housing as the electronic plug pivots, and the electrical power wire may bend to maintain an electrical connection with the printed circuit board as the printed circuit board pivots.
In another example, a connector comprises a housing including a leading surface including a plug opening and a fulcrum spaced away from the plug opening, an electronic plug extending through the plug opening away from the leading surface of the housing, a biased pivot providing the electronic plug a range of angular adjustment relative to the leading surface of the housing, and a connecting magnet contained within the housing, wherein the connector is removably affixable to an electronic device based at least on a magnetic attraction between the connecting magnet and the electronic device. In this example and/or other examples, the fulcrum may be a first fulcrum, and the leading surface of the housing may include a second fulcrum spaced away from the plug opening on an opposing side of the plug opening from the first fulcrum, such that the plug opening is positioned between the first fulcrum and the second fulcrum. In this example and/or other examples, the connector may further comprise an internal retention structure at least partially contained within the housing and configured to pivotably couple the electronic plug to the housing, the biased pivot may be biased by a bias mechanism including a first bias magnet fixed within the housing and a second bias magnet operatively coupled to the internal retention structure, and the electronic plug may be biased to a default position within the range of angular adjustment based at least on a magnetic attraction between the first bias magnet and the second bias magnet. In this example and/or other examples, the connector may further comprise a printed circuit board mechanically coupled and electrically connected to the electronic plug, and a flexible power wire electrically connected to the printed circuit board to transfer electrical power to the electronic plug via the printed circuit board, the printed circuit board may pivot relative to the housing as the electronic plug pivots, and the electrical power wire may bend to maintain an electrical connection with the printed circuit board as the printed circuit board pivots.
In yet another example, a connector comprises a housing including a leading surface including a plug opening, an electronic plug extending through the plug opening away from the leading surface of the housing, a pivot providing the electronic plug a range of angular adjustment relative to the leading surface of the housing, and a bias mechanism including a first bias magnet fixed within the housing and a second bias magnet operatively coupled to the electronic plug, the bias mechanism biasing the electronic plug to a default position within the range of angular adjustment based at least on a magnetic attraction between the first bias magnet and the second bias magnet. In this example, and/or other examples, the connector may further comprise a connecting magnet contained within the housing, the connector is removably affixable to an electronic device based at least on a magnetic attraction between the connecting magnet and the electronic device. In this example, and/or other examples, the connector may further comprise a printed circuit board mechanically coupled and electrically connected to the electronic plug, and a flexible power wire electrically connected to the printed circuit board to transfer electrical power to the electronic plug via the printed circuit board, the printed circuit board may pivot relative to the housing as the electronic plug pivots, and the electrical power wire may bend to maintain an electrical connection with the printed circuit board as the printed circuit board pivots.
It will be understood that the configurations and/or approaches described herein are exemplary in nature, and that these specific implementations or examples are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the present disclosure includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and sub-combinations of the various processes, systems and configurations, and other features, functions, acts, and/or properties disclosed herein, as well as any and all equivalents thereof.
